Arokiasamy Steven Joseph v Lee Boon Chuan Nelson: Negligence Claim for Suicide of Salvin Foster Steven
In Arokiasamy Steven Joseph and Tan Kin Tee v Lee Boon Chuan Nelson and Institute of Mental Health, the General Division of the High Court of Singapore addressed a negligence claim related to the suicide of Salvin Foster Steven. The plaintiffs, Arokiasamy Steven Joseph (administrator of the estate of Salvin Foster Steven, deceased) and Tan Kin Tee, sued Lee Boon Chuan Nelson and the Institute of Mental Health, alleging negligence in Steven's care. The court, presided over by Choo Han Teck J, granted the plaintiffs leave to discontinue the suit by consent, in accordance with the terms of settlement reached between them and the 1st and 3rd defendants and dismissed summonses filed by counsel seeking to secure their fees, emphasizing the need for equitable fees.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
General Division of the High Court of the Republic of Singapore1.2 Outcome
By consent, the plaintiffs were given leave to discontinue the suit in accordance with the terms of settlement reached between them and the 1st and 3rd defendants. Summons 2331 and Summons 2424 are dismissed with costs to be paid by Arbiters Law Inc Corporation to the plaintiffs and the 1st and 3rd defendants.
1.3 Case Type
Civil
1.4 Judgment Type
Judgment
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Plaintiffs sued Dr. Lee and IMH for negligence leading to Salvin Foster Steven's suicide. The court dismissed summonses seeking to secure counsels' fees, emphasizing the need for equitable fees.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arokiasamy Steven Joseph | Plaintiff | Individual | Leave to discontinue suit granted | Consent | Vijay Kumar Rai, Joavan Christopher Pereira, Jasleen Kaur |
| Tan Kin Tee | Plaintiff | Individual | Leave to discontinue suit granted | Consent | Anil Narain Balchandani |
| Lee Boon Chuan Nelson | Defendant | Individual | Settlement reached | Settled | Samuel Lim Jie Bin, Thanjit Kaur Sekhon |
| Gomathinayagam Kandasami | Defendant | Individual | Action discontinued | Dismissed | |
| Institute of Mental Health | Defendant | Government Agency | Settlement reached | Settled | Kuah Boon Theng, Felicia Chain, Shenna Tjoa |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Vijay Kumar Rai | Arbiters Inc Law Corporation |
| Anil Narain Balchandani | Red Lion Circle |
| Samuel Lim Jie Bin | Donaldson & Burkinshaw LLP |
| Thanjit Kaur Sekhon | Donaldson & Burkinshaw LLP |
| Jansen Aw | Unknown |
| Kuah Boon Theng | Legal Clinic LLC |
| Felicia Chain | Legal Clinic LLC |
| Shenna Tjoa | Legal Clinic LLC |
| Joavan Christopher Pereira | Arbiters Inc Law Corporation |
| Jasleen Kaur | Arbiters Inc Law Corporation |
4. Facts
- Salvin Foster Steven committed suicide on 7 September 2017 at the age of 31.
- SFS had a history of mental illness and had first attempted suicide in 2008.
- SFS was admitted to the Institute of Mental Health in 2010.
- The Father and Mother brought this action against Dr Lee and the IMH because they blame the defendants for the suicide of SFS.
- On 4 August 2023, the plaintiffs came to terms with the defendants and agreed to discontinue the action.
- Mr Rai filed a summons on 2 August 2023 on behalf of his firm for the court to record the settlement between the plaintiffs and the defendants, with the sum of $330,000.00 being the settlement amount to be paid into court.
5. Formal Citations
- Arokiasamy Steven Joseph (administrator of the estate of Salvin Foster Steven, deceased) and anothervLee Boon Chuan Nelson and others and other matters, Suit No 833 of 2023 and Summonses Nos 2331 and 2424 of 2023, [2023] SGHC 230
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Salvin Foster Steven committed suicide | |
| Salvin Foster Steven first attempted suicide | |
| Salvin Foster Steven was admitted to the Institute of Mental Health | |
| Suit commenced | |
| Mother started work again as a part-time teacher | |
| Action against the 2nd defendant was discontinued | |
| Plaintiffs terminated the services of Mr Balchandani and Mr Rai’s firms | |
| Mr Rai filed a summons on behalf of his firm | |
| Plaintiffs filed notices of their intention to act in person | |
| Plaintiffs came to terms with the defendants and agreed to discontinue the action | |
| Court granted leave for Mr Balchandani and Mr Rai to be discharged | |
| Mr Rai filed another summons | |
| Plaintiffs and counsel for the defendants confirmed that the matter between the parties had been settled | |
| Hearing date | |
| Judgment reserved |
7. Legal Issues
- Negligence
- Outcome: The court approved the settlement reached without admission of liability.
- Category: Substantive
- Solicitor’s fees
- Outcome: The court was not satisfied that the fees incurred are justifiable and dismissed the summonses.
- Category: Procedural
8. Remedies Sought
- Monetary Damages
9. Cause of Actions
- Negligence
10. Practice Areas
- Litigation
11. Industries
- Healthcare
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| No applicable statutes | |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Suicide
- Mental illness
- Negligence
- Settlement
- Solicitor’s fees
- Equitable lien
15.2 Keywords
- Suicide
- Negligence
- Mental Health
- Settlement
- Solicitor Fees
16. Subjects
- Mental Health Law
- Civil Procedure
- Professional Responsibility
17. Areas of Law
- Civil Procedure
- Negligence